Intel’s affordable Core i5-14600K stands strong, back at its lowest price to date
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Building an affordable PC feels tricky in 2025. While AMD has some options, if you want an excellent Intel all-rounder, the 14th-gen makes sense. For affordability? Step forward the Core i5-14600K.
That the Core i5-14600K is still regarded as a viable processor in 2025 is good news, as long as you can find it for a low price. And we have, as an Amazon deal has dropped it back to its lowest price of $208 – a $31 (13%) fall from its typical $239 tag. Paired with a more affordable motherboard, that’s the basis of a very decent rig for gaming, productivity, and daily use.
Intel Core i5-14600K Desktop Processor
Why we love the Intel Core i5-14600K
We’re all for affordability, and the 14600K fits that profile when its successor, the Core Ultra 5 245k, is still $60 more expensive and certainly less well-rounded, lacking in gaming and average single-core performance. Meanwhile, the older chip is like a comfy sweater: reliable, fits well, and does everything you need it to.
- Familiar platform – A CPU using Intel's LGA 1700 platform, the Core i5-14600K delivers 14 cores and 20 threads, and incorporates UHD Graphics 770. Pick up a compatible Intel 600 series motherboard (with updated BIOS) or a 700 series board for an affordable but capable PC.
- 12th Gen begone – One of those CPUs worth upgrading for, the 14600K is well ahead of the much-loved Intel 12th Gen chips.
- Performance – This CPU can go toe to toe with the similarly priced Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 5 7600X in multi-tasking and gaming, even coming out on top.
- Overclocking – As it is a ‘K’ variant CPU, you could overclock the 14600K. This 125W part can run hot, though, so it is best combined with a good cooler to keep temperatures down.
- DDR4 or DDR5 – Compatible with older DDR4 or newer DDR5 RAM, offering flexibility in your build (depending on the motherboard).
Who is this Core i5-14600K deal for?
As shown in the price chart above, the cost of the Core i5-14600K has fluctuated over the last month. So if you missed the last time the CPU was at this price, this deal is most definitely for you. An ideal option for building a more affordable and flexible PC than using the latest Intel parts, it’ll offer a clear improvement on older systems, including the 12th Gen (but not a massive change from the 13th Gen).
As the best GPUs for the 14600K show, you can still put together a PC capable of midrange performance with the 14600K, and build a system capable of up to 4K gaming, although 1440p resolution would be best (still excellent!). Check out our picks for the best motherboards for the 14600K too, so you can keep an eye out for a good match.
Intel Core i7-13700KF Gaming Desktop Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 Desktop Processor 265K
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G and Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II
Intel Core Ultra 7 Desktop Processor 265KF
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800XT
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 8-Core, 16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 Desktop Processor 265K
AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900XT
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU
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